Found some utubes of the Springfield Creamery Benefit. Here is Jerry playing a stock looking strat, not alligator, even has the trem bar attached. Incredibly enough, or perhaps not incredible at all, Jerry sounds like Jerry! There are several related vids, many have a lot of crowd shots. Is it possible that Jerry could be playing a stock strat thru a twin and yes folks its hard to believe, sound just like Jerry!

Interesting. It's certainly not a new one since there's some visible fretboard wear. But it's a nice old maple fretboard strat. Not 'Gator for sure as it's a sunburst. Jerry would sound like Jerry playing a Squier throuhg a solid state amp.

that guitar has been discussed before, and probably some searchable info here about it.

gr8fullfred wrote:Is it possible that Jerry could be playing a stock strat thru a twin and yes folks its hard to believe, sound just like Jerry!

this is also a searchable debate, but one i'll touch on again. Jerry sounds like Jerry because he IS Jerry! BUT, Jerry's TONE does change with his equipment changes thru the years. He could never NOT be Jerry. that said, the sound he got from his gear could and does make a change from what it sounded like in the early days to where it ended up at in the end, and all the years inbetween.

I thought he had a couple of Strats in his personal arsenal around this time... Not surprising during this era he would probably own a couple to find his favorite, which was eventually Alligator during that time.

JonnyBoy wrote:I thought he had a couple of Strats in his personal arsenal around this time... Not surprising during this era he would probably own a couple to find his favorite, which was eventually Alligator during that time.

As usual, you are right Waldo. The gear matters a lot. That's why were not all playing Chinese Strat knock-offs though practice amps - though a good player can pull a reasonable sound out of anything. Pickups, wood choice, electronics, amps, tubes, etc. all play into tone. The player is the biggest factor but everything matters. Nice history of his gear evolution there too . . . and China-Rider's

The Nash Strat(Alligator) is having it's bridge and tailpiece replaced with the new Alembic/Rick Turner made brass one with brass sustainer block, at the time of that Sunshine Daydream video. It comes back that December and played most of 73, but according to Parish, Jerry did not like the results. The magic of that guitar was lost with that bridge change, more notably the sustainer block. Wolf got the same deal initially, but after Jerry's dislike of the sustainer block in the Nash Strat, a purpleheart piece of wood was placed in the rout of Wolf where the sustainer block was. However, Wolf's initial bridge was the same type used on the Alligator.

that black strat was only used for midi and only used during space. Wolf comes back out with the Roland pickup mounted on it so that he could have access to the midi for the entire show.

peace,waldo

Disclaimer: I only make, modify or build things for those that seek what i may be able to provide.

tcsned wrote:Interesting. It's certainly not a new one since there's some visible fretboard wear.

They were still using nitro-cellulose laquer in 72, not poly until later, right? I bet Jerry's famously acidic hands coupled with has practice habits and the Dead's touring schedule could cause visible wear on one of those necks in as little as a month or two.

tcsned wrote:Interesting. It's certainly not a new one since there's some visible fretboard wear.

They were still using nitro-cellulose laquer in 72, not poly until later, right? I bet Jerry's famously acidic hands coupled with has practice habits and the Dead's touring schedule could cause visible wear on one of those necks in as little as a month or two.